PERE LACHAISE - A famous Parisian Cemetery
- Something different for your Halloween Blog list.
Lovingly called "la cite des morts - the city of the dead" by Parisians; Pere Lachaise is probably the most famous cemetery in Paris and among the most fascinating in the world. For those of you who still have Paris on your future travel list, I highly recommend a stop at Pere Lachaise.
My husband and I recently returned from a six country trip that included a repeat stop to Paris. We had friends travel along and we enticed them to hop on the metro for a walking tour of some of the most famous people in French history.
It's residents inlcude authors, mathematicians, singers, playwrights, architects, military leaders, politicians. An absolute who's who of France between 1804 and today; including one American musician. Here is a very short list of some of permanent residents; Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Honore de Balzac, Alice B. Toklas and Jim Morrison.
As you walk through the lanes you will see numerous headstones, family vaults (large and small), simple markers, and memorial sized tombs. You will be fasicinated by the ornate design and detail that went into many of the graves. We are fans of Art Deco and that amazing artwork is evident throughout Pere Lachaise. Some memorials have been long ago forgotten or more likely, no family remains to tend to them. Tree roots have long ago disrupted the orderly alignment of many tombs. Some sections are packed in so tightly you only have inches between them. It is still an active cemetery and you will see evidence of new residents throughout Pere Lachaise. 
The grounds and lanes are lovingly maintained and the complex is secured every night. Pere Lachaise, a place of history, honor, peace and absolute fascination. Put in on your list of "things to do in Paris".
http://northstargallery.com/pages/perehist.htm
Comments(7)